I have entitled our message this morning, “Finding True Blessedness (Part 2).” As we get started, I should remind us that the words of Jesus seen in our passage are called “The Beatitudes,” and that the word “beatitude” comes from a Latin term meaning “blessedness.”(1) But the term “blessed” used by Jesus describes more than mere happiness. It is a type of joy; one that is “untouchable and self-contained,” and one that is “independent of all the chances and changes of life.”(2) So, as we encounter the term “blessed” in our passage, we will substitute it with the word “joyful” as it was likely intended.
Now, “The Beatitudes” are part of a larger discourse known as “The Sermon on the Mount,” and this title is based on Matthew 5:1-2, which says, “And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them.” The words of Jesus’ sermon are jam-packed with spiritual insight and need to be examined in great depth; and so, we are going to tackle His message – especially “The Beatitudes” – by doing a verse-by-verse exposition. In “Finding True Blessedness (Part 2),” we are going to be looking specifically at Matthew 5:7-12. So, let us go ahead and get started, beginning with verse 7.
Blessed Are the Merciful (v. 7)
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
“The story is told of a politician who, after receiving the proof of a portrait, was very angry with the photographer. He stormed back to the photographer and arrived with these angry words: ‘This picture does not do me justice!’ The photographer replied, ‘Sir, with a face like yours, you don’t need justice, you need mercy!’”(3) Justice is getting what we deserve. Mercy is not getting what we deserve.(4)
Jesus’ statement has nothing to do with karma, which is the Hindu belief in destiny or fate, following as an effect from cause. The mercy received by the merciful does not happen by chance or accident. It is a certainty; a spiritual principle established by the one true God. In James 2:13, the apostle said, “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.” Later in “The Sermon on the Mount,” in Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus said, “If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (cf. Matthew 18:35); and in Matthew 7:12, Jesus said, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them,” which is known as “the golden rule.” So, if we want to receive mercy, we had better show mercy.
So, what exactly is mercy? Well, the Greek word here for mercy (eleemon) can be traced back to an original Hebrew word (chesedh), which “denotes a sympathy which is not given, as it were, from the outside, but which comes from a deliberate identification with the other person, until we see things as he sees them, and feel things as he feels them.”(5) It is a type of sympathy which denotes “experiencing things together with the other person, [and] literally going through what he is going through.”(6) You’ve heard it said, “Don’t judge someone until you walk a mile in their shoes.”
But it is not just about understanding what someone else is going through. It also pertains to having known and received mercy oneself. Meaning, we cannot give away what have not received. John tells us, “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). We love Jesus, because of what He did for us first. Jesus gave His own life on the cross for our sins and extended grace and mercy, when we should have received condemnation and death. We read in 1 John 4:10-11, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [or atoning sacrifice] for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
“Merciful people realize their own unworthiness and need for God’s pardon. Having known God’s grace and [forgiveness] in their own lives, they want to forgive and help others.”(7) One paraphrase of this verse might read as: “Joyful are those who can see through the eyes of others and feel with their feelings, for they will find that others do the same for them, and so does the Lord.”(8) A simpler paraphrase could read as, “Joyful are those who show mercy through forgiveness, kindness, and compassion, for they will receive mercy.”(9)
Blessed Are the Pure in Heart (v. 8)
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“There is an old saying that goes like this: ‘It isn’t the mountain ahead that wears you out, it’s the grain of sand in your shoe.’ Many a man, worried for fear he would not be able to cross a mountain, has had to stop . . . miles before he crossed the foothills, because he had not taken time to clean out his shoes . . . Eager to avoid the big sins, your life may outwardly be one of extreme piety, but if there are hidden imperfections – little pebbles in your shoe – these will cause failures in your Christian life.”(10) Think about it, one tiny piece of dirt in a carburetor can keep the most powerful truck from climbing a mountain road. Purity is all-important in making the ascent.(11)
The Greek word for “pure” (katharos) is the term for cleansing. “Some Jews in Jesus’ day and time put a great deal of emphasis on outward, ritual purity. Here, Jesus stressed the more important purity of the inner life in its relationship to God.”(12) “By various groups within Judaism, a sharp distinction was made between what was ritually clean and what was unclean. [But] Jesus brushed this aside in the interest of real purity – that of [the] heart. The heart stood for the whole inner self; mind as well as feeling. Purity of heart is simplicity or integrity . . . It is the concentration of the whole self upon God.”(13)
The word “pure” was used for wheat that had been sifted, milk that was uncontaminated by water, and metal that was pure and unalloyed.(14) The pure in heart have unmixed motives. This means that when we serve the Lord, we need to check our motives. Commentator William Barclay points out that “even a preacher at his most sincere is not altogether free from the danger of self-satisfaction in having preached a good sermon.”(15) John Bunyan, for example, was once told by someone that he had preached a good sermon that day, to which he replied, “The devil already told me that as I was coming down the pulpit steps.”(16)
The “pure in heart” are those who have been cleansed from within. This is not an outward righteousness that can be seen only by men, but an inward holiness that can be seen only by God. The Bible says in Hebrews 12:14 that without holiness, no one will see God, further emphasizing how it is the pure in heart who will see Him.(17) One paraphrase of this verse might read as: “Joyful are those whose motives are always unmixed, for they shall see God.”(18) Another paraphrase could read as, “Joyful are those who have been purified from the inside out, being made clean and holy, for they will see God.”(19)
Blessed Are the Peacemakers (v. 9)
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“The Spanish have a story about a father and son who became estranged. The son left home, and the father [wanting to make peace] later set out to find him. He searched for months with no success. Finally, in desperation, the father turned to the newspaper for help. His ad simply read, ‘Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your father.’ [And] on Saturday, [nearly] eight hundred young men named Paco showed up looking for forgiveness and love from their estranged fathers. The world is filled with people who desperately long for reconciliation, with each other and with God.”(20)
This verse basically says, “Blessed are the shalom-makers.” This term is not about keeping the peace, but about bringing peace where there is none.(21) “The blessing is on the peace ‘makers,’ not necessarily on the peace ‘lovers.’” You see, in the name of peace, we might “allow a threatening or dangerous situation to [continue], and our defense is that for peace’s sake we do not want to take any action . . . A person [might] think that he is loving peace, when in fact he is piling up trouble for the future, because he refuses to face the situation and take the action which the situation demands.”(22)
The way to peace often requires having the courage to speak up and bring a situation to light, so that steps can be taken to move toward repentance and reconciliation. Later in “The Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus said, “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar,” find your brother, speak with him, and make things right, “and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24; cf. Matthew 18:15-18). Galatians 6:1, in the New Century Version, says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone in your group does something wrong, you who are spiritual should go to that person and gently help make him right again” (NCV).
“The peace which the Bible calls blessed does not come from the evasion of issues; it comes from facing them, dealing with them, and [overcoming]. What this beatitude demands is not the passive acceptance of things, because we are afraid of the trouble of doing anything about them, but the active facing of things, and the ‘making’ of peace, even when the way to peace is through struggle.”(23)
Peacemaking happens through the ministry of reconciliation, which is given to all Christians; and we are said to be ambassadors for Christ. Now, in addition to “making peace among people,” the ministry of reconciliation implores individuals to “make peace with God” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20); and according to Romans 5:1, we have peace with God by knowing Jesus Christ. A paraphrase of this verse could read as: “Joyful are those who have been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ and bring this same message of reconciliation to others. All who have peace with God are His children.”(24)
Blessed Are the Persecuted (vv. 10-12)
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
“The pastor of an underground Chinese church told a group of Southern Baptists about the precautions they must take to avoid government persecution. Each time their church reaches ten to fifteen members, they split to reduce attention. They also alternate meeting places for the same reason. Because phones are monitored, members meet with a volunteer on a downtown street to find out where the church will meet next. One such volunteer was discovered by the government, arrested, beaten, and put in prison. He lost his job, house, and medical benefits. Another man stepped in and took his place and he too suffered the same fate. One of the visitors said, ‘Well, I suppose you have difficulty filling that job.’ The Chinese pastor replied, ‘No. We have a waiting list’.”(25)
Verses 10-12 are often lumped together, as they all deal with persecution. We read here, that just as Jesus faced persecution, so will His followers. In John 15:20, Jesus said, “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” “Jesus declared that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are persecuted for upholding God’s standards of justice, truth, and goodness. Persecution often comes to those who, in the name of God, oppose the evil in the world,”(26) as those who are under conviction try to silence the truth. “Those who [stand for their] faith, rather than hide their faith to avoid persecution, are genuine followers of Christ,”(27) and Jesus “assured them that the only kingdom which will always remain belonged to them.”(28)
We must note that “Jesus did not promise a present-day reward for the persecuted.”(29) He said, “Thiers is the kingdom of heaven” (v. 10), not the kingdom of God. In the gospels, when we read about “the kingdom of heaven,” it refers to a realm not on this earth; but when we read about “the kingdom of God,” it refers to God’s rule and reign that has come down and is working little-by-little to pervade the earth. That is what Jesus meant when He declared, in Mark 1:15, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.” The expression “at hand” means it is so near that we can, in essence, reach out and touch it. It is a present reality here on earth. But the promise to the persecuted is that they will receive a place which is in heaven.
In verses 11-12, Jesus was telling His disciples what the consequences of following Him would entail. They would be “reviled,” which means they would be criticized in an abusive, angry, or insulting manner. They would be “persecuted,” which means they would be subjected to ill-treatment or harm; and people would make evil and false accusations against them. Looking at verse 10, we learn that this kind of treatment is the result of standing for righteousness; and according to verse 11, it is the result of doing things in Jesus’ name – or “for My sake,” as Jesus said. In Luke 21:12, Jesus warned His disciples, “They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.”
However, in verses 13-15, of Luke 21, He went on to say, “But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore, settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.” So, when we are reviled and persecuted, and false accusations are leveled against us, we must not lash out or fight back, as persecution is an opportunity for testimony.
It must be pointed out that a Christian can be persecuted for doing what is wrong,(30) or be opposed because he is a trouble-maker or cantankerous.(31) “A Christian should face persecution only because he or she is a follower of Jesus,”(32) and doing what is right. You see, “blessedness holds only when one suffers in the service of Christ and righteousness, and when the charges of evil doing are false . . . For those who, like the prophets, suffer for truth and righteousness, there is a reward in heaven.”(33)
Jesus said that His followers should “rejoice and be exceedingly glad” (v. 12) over this persecution and their subsequent reward. The word for “be exceedingly glad” is from a Greek verb (agalliasthai), which means “to leap exceedingly.” “It is the joy which leaps for joy; [as in] the joy of the climber who has reached the summit, and who leaps for joy that the mountain path is conquered.”(34) A paraphrase of these verses could read as: “Joyful are those daring enough to openly live for Christ and suffer persecution, for they will receive the kingdom of heaven as their reward.”(35)
Time of Reflection
So, this morning, we have seen four spiritual realities that run contrary to what the world holds dear; and Jesus says that if we can grasp these realities and walk in them, it will lead to true blessedness, which is having a life full of peace and divine joy. The first reality is to extended grace and mercy toward others, just as God did for us when He sent His one and only Son to die for our sins. The second reality is to live with pure motives and a sincere heart, seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness first (Matthew 6:33), rather than seeking our own glory. The third reality involves being brave and imploring people to move toward reconciliation; not just keeping the peace, but working at making peace; and the fourth reality is being bold and standing for truth, righteousness, and justice in the face of ridicule and persecution, knowing that we have a reward in heaven.
It sounds difficult to walk in these kingdom realities, as they involve self-sacrifice; and sacrifice seems to contradict happiness. But, let me ask you, “Are you fulfilled in living for yourself? Have you been successful by society’s standards; and yet, you feel empty and unsatisfied?” As I said last week, happiness comes and goes, but joy is untouchable. True blessedness (and joy) comes from above; it comes from living for God instead of ourselves. And for those who know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord – who will one day live for eternity in heaven – they will have everlasting joy. In Isaiah, we read, “So the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness; [and] sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 51:11). If you desire joy for both now and eternity, then you need to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
NOTES
(1) Mary Fairchild, “What Are the Beatitudes?” Learn Religions, Apr. 5, 2023: https://www.learnreligions.com/what-are-the-beatitudes-701505 (Accessed May 8, 2023).
(2) William Barclay, “The Gospel of Matthew, The Daily Study Bible, vol. 1 (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1958), p. 84..
(3) Michael P. Green, Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1997), p. 240.
(4) Ibid., p. 178.
(5) Barclay, p. 98.
(6) Ibid., p. 98.
(7) Clair M. Crissey, “Matthew,” Layman’s Bible Book Commentary, vol. 15 (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1981), p. 32.
(8) Barclay, paraphrase, p. 100.
(9) Fairchild.
(10) Green, p. 337.
(11) Ibid., p. 337.
(12) Crissey, p. 32.
(13) Frank Stagg, “Matthew,” The Broadman Bible Commentary, vol. 8 (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1969) p. 105.
(14) Barclay, p. 101.
(15) Ibid., p. 101.
(16) Ibid., p. 102.
(17) Fairchild.
(18) Barclay, p. 101.
(19) Fairchild.
(20) Raymond McHenry, McHenry’s Quips, Quotes & Other Notes (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1998), p. 206.
(21) A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1930), p. 42.
(22) Barclay, p. 104.
(23) Ibid., p. 104.
(24) Fairchild.
(25) Raymond McHenry, McHenry’s Stories for the Soul (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers), p. 49.
(26) Crissey, pp. 32-33.
(27) Fairchild.
(28) Crissey, p. 33.
(29) Ibid., pp. 32-33.
(30) Ibid., p. 33.
(31) Stagg, p. 106.
(32) Crissey, p. 33.
(33) Stagg, p. 106.
(34) Barclay, p. 112.
(35) Fairchild.
